New Dresden block, bow-ties, and valentines projects

I have been itching to sew for weeks. We’ve had a lot going on with holiday hoopla, a family wedding, and extended family staying with us for a week – all very good things – but I have hardly touched my sewing machine for weeks. I had big plans for this weekend to clean up Christmas, start a bunch of new projects, and clean out my sewing room. But then I got my annual post-Christmas bug and instead I feel like a piece of crud. I guess those things will wait.

Before I started feeling too crumby I did get to make a little Dresden bee block for Lori Holt. I think it turned out so cute and it went so fast. This Dresden has fewer and fatter wedges, cut using Lori’s small “thimble” template. Lori has this Dresden tutorial on her blog.

Even though I haven’t sewn much, I did make my first ever handmade bow-ties last weekend for the wedding. I’m kind of proud of how they turned out. I just searched Bow Tie Tutorials on Pinterest, read a bunch of them and then went for it. I may make more of these in my future, because they looked so cute on my guys and weren’t nearly as tricky as I’d feared. 🙂

If, unlike yours truly, your Christmas decor is cleaned up and put away and you’re itching to get ready for the next holiday, may I suggest some pieced heart pillows?

My pillows and pattern are featured in the current issue of Quilt It…Today. I snapped a picture of an issue in the wild when I saw it at JoAnn’s right before Christmas (and got some interesting looks while doing so), but must have accidentally deleted it from my phone. 🙁 This issue is also available from the Fat Quarter Shop.

14 Comments

That quilt block is SO cute! I love it! I really like that quilt too! Wow!….your work was in a magazine?! That&#39;s awesome! But, I totally see why…you&#39;re very skilled and talented. I hope you&#39;re feeling better. Best wishes for a wonderful new year!

Those are the cutest pillows. I don&#39;t know how my hubby will feel if I start decorating the house with hearts, but I&#39;ll try and get away with it, just so I can have some of these. They&#39;re super cute.<br />E

Those pillows are adorable. I made a Valentine wreath last year and it was a big hit. Some pillows may be next… <br />Hope you are feeling better soon and can get back to sewing and everything you enjoy. All the best for 2014. Looking forward to seeing what you have in store 🙂 <br /><br />J

OMG — those bow ties are AWESOME and my 10-year-old has been seriously begging me to get him some bow ties. (Actually, he keeps begging me to wear a tuxedo to his piano recitals, a tuxedo that has not fit him since he was six). Can you please share links to the tutorials you used, or consider posting one of your own if you ended up doing your own thing? <br /><br />Feel better soon. In the

Oh, I do hope you feel better soon. I caught that wretched bug when I was in Utah over Thanksgiving, and finally went to the doctor the day after Christmas. Finally feel like I&#39;m getting better, and I hope you do as well. Love your heart pillows and the lovely quilt, but honestly, those bow ties are the cutest! <br /><br />All the best!

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